Isolator for battery separators



C. M. ANGELL IsoLA'roR FOR BATTERY sEPARAToRs s s s e s s s s e e e e e,G

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Patented June 26, 1923.

STAT S CHESTER NGELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR -TO VESTA BATTERYCOR- f PORAITION, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION ,OF ILLINOIS. i

I'soLA'ron Fon aA'rTEnY snrann'rons.

Application flied may' 2e, i922. seria Nq. 563,854.

To all whom may Concern: i

Be it known that LCHESTER IVI. ANGELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chlcago, inthe county of Cook and State oi Illiproposed toapply various forms of envelopes, buttons, etc., to the separatorplates, ,either supericially or embedded therein.

However none of these arrangements has, so

far as I am advised, given complete satisfaction or proved practical. iI,

l It is the object of this invention to provide plate isolators which,combined with vthe usual wood separators, will eiect complete andlasting separation of the positive and negative plates in a battery.

The invention will be fully described and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawin s, in which- 4`ig. 1 is a perspective side view of aseparator plate embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective side view of the isolator constituting theprincipal feature of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view in perspective of a modified form ofseparator Plate;

Fig. 4 is` a similar view of an isolator adapted to co-operate with theseparator shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view in perspective of a separator plate and anotherform of isolator applied at one edge thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the isolator adapted to be applied at theother edge of the separator shown in Fig. 5.

" In the drawings 10 represents a usual form of wood separator placedbetween positive and negative battery plates. In the marginal portionsof the treated separator part of the wood is cut away at the cornersdening on the remaining portion 1()a dovetail shoulders 10". Theisolator comprises blocks 11 formed to re lace the cut-away portionsand-a plate portion 12 interconnecting the blocks 11 and extending overthe portion 10.

y The isolator is made of hard rubber, celluloid, or other suitablematerial, as is well understood.

The thickness of the isolator blocks 11 is preferably slightly greaterthan the thickness of the separator plate and the area of the blocks 11is suiiicient to take and withstand the pressure which is principallyexerted upon the marginal portions when the plates are assembledandsecured together as a unit. l

The plate portion 12 interconnecting the blocks or inserts 11 serves thepurpose of preventin a direct path from plate to plate when crac :sdevelop in course of time, as is usually the case, and to prevent shortcircuits between the. plates due to lodgment of active material inopenings in the marginal portions 10a or due t'o the so-called o'wth oflead trees which often takes place tough cracks, knot holes or otherimperfections in wood battery separators.

The isolators are so placed that they` are practically coextensive withthe frame of solid metal of the plates so that the electricalvresistance between the plates is not materially increased.

To form passages for the acid and the current, however, where suchrovision is deemed advisable, the high resistance plate portion 12 maybe punctured at numerous places to provide small perorations 13. Suchperforations, suitably placed will allow the passage of acid rand,electric current through the impervious isolator materia while thecellular structure of the wood covering these holes will prevent. theactive material from forming short circuits` between the plates. i

The form of isolator shown in Figs. 3 and 95 4 includes in addition tothe inserts 11a, a stud 14 centrally located on plate portion 15 andfitting into a corresponding perforation in the separator 16.

The isolator in both forms is pressed in 10o place on the separator andthen the separator is slipped between the plates in the usual manner.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 no portion of the separator is cutaway. The. isolator 17 is merely formed to reinforce the marginalportion. The part 18 overlaps the mar inal portion of the separator andthe portion 19 fits against the edge of the separator. The arrangementis such that, as uw previously mentioned in connection with the otherforms, the isolator takes the mechanical crushing action and wear fromthe plates, while the Wood separators function primarily as electricalinsulating mats.

While in the foregoing several forms have been shown in which theinvention may be carried out, it is obvious that other forms mayreadilysuggest themselves within the scope of the invention.

p vI claim:

1. The combination of a battery separator plate and an isolator adjacentthe margin thereof, the isolator comprising a portion havingsubstantially the thickness of the separator plate and a relatively thinplate portion extending over the margin of the latter.

2. The combination of a battery separator plate and an isolator adjacentthe margin thereof, the isolator comprising a portion havingsubstantially the thickness of the separator and a relatively thin plateportion extending over the margin of the latter, the separator and theisolator being constructed to mechanically interlock against separationin the lane of the separator.

3. T ve combination of a battery separator plate and an isolatoradjacent the margin thereof, the isolator comprising a thick portionhaving substantially the thickness of the separator plate and a plateportion extending over the margin of the latter, the

plate having portions of its margin cut away defining undercutshoulders, and an isolator having thick portions adapted to fit Vthecut-away portions and a thin plate port1on extending over the margin,the said thick portion having substantially the thick.- ness of theseparator plate.

5. Device according to claim 1 in which the plate portion is providedwith a number of small perforations.

6. As an article of manufacture, an isolator for battery separatorplates, comprising as integral parts a relatively thick portion havingsubstantially the thickness of a separator plate and a relatively thinplate portion adapted to cover the margin of a separator plate. f

7. Device according to claim 6 in which the plate portion has a numberof small perforations. v

8. As an article of manufacture, an isolator for battery separatorplates, comprising two relatively thick lportions having substantiallythe thickness of a separator plate and a relatively thin plate portioninterconnecting the thick portions.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

CHESTER M. ANGELL.

